TV can be educational - I'm a witness

Last week a delegation of five TV & Film Bureau directors arrived in Louisville from our Sister City of Jiujiang, China. It was a flying visit; as part of what seemed to be a whirlwind tour of the USA and Canada....so the pressure was on to make Louisville stand out as the best city on their trip! I had been told by the Jiujiang Foreign Affairs Office to organize anything that was convenient but that's not the way we like to do things at Sister Cities....

After a lovely dinner at Yachings on the first night - where the waitress seemed puzzled by our request to eat 'Chinese style' and share several dishes, we let them rest up for the evening. The next day I had organized a tour of FOX 41 studios - I thought this might be of interest to them given their career area but I never expected for it to be such a hit. The tour itself was great, the control room and behind the scenes was far more interesting that I had expected but we were fortunate enough to bump into the Programming Director who invited the group back to his office. What ensued was a 45 minute discussion about American television, production, ownership and cable networks. Never have I personally learned so much during a delegation’s visit. The group fired question after question eager to learn more about how things are done in the U.S - a small quarrel broke out (I can only assume this was the case not being able to understand the language however the intonation indicated some disagreement) over disbelief that the Cable companies pay the networks for their programs and not the other way around. Once cleared up they had more questions. Harry Beam, the FOX41 director honestly seemed to enjoy sharing his knowledge with the group and even went so far as to color code that days TV schedule to indicate the variety of programs; such as news, syndicated programs and FOX shows. I really can't thank him enough for the time he dedicated to the group. Afterwards we were given the privilege of viewing a live news production in the studio and before that the lead up to it in the control room.

After lunch across the river, looking back on our lovely skyline we embarked on a tour of downtown, hitting all the places you would expect. Everything was a delight to the group, with requests to stop for photos opportunities at every location.....with one exception.....the world’s largest baseball bat. I realized that I did not have a group of baseball fans in tow, as they waved us on indicating they would not need a photo. They made a last minute request to visit a cinema and so we headed to Baxter Avenue - all the way there I contemplated how I was going to blag our way in free of charge. It seems having a group of five Chinese individuals in suits standing behind me was enough to validate my request and in we went. I'm not sure how long we spent looking inside the various screens but I am certain that we took a photo of everything inside - from the seating, to the signage, to the concession stand, to each and every poster. I came to learn that Jiujiang might be building a new cinema complex - so watch this space for a Baxter clone!

We just had time to grab their luggage from the hotel before heading back to the airport. Before they left I insisted that they all return so we can show them more of what Louisville has to offer - I found myself disappointed that we weren't able to extend the trip, this truly was such a fun group. I hope I can track them down if I'm ever in Jiujiang!

Thank you to Sean Zhang and Momo Wang who interpreted for me and without either of which the visit could not have been a success.

On a side note, it is these types of exchanges that have lead to a trust and respect between Louisville and Jiujiang. It is directly because of these interactions and the relationship that have been created between our cities that we have been able to establish the Young Scholars Program. This fall eight degree seeking students will enroll in Bellarmine and Hanover colleges for four year degrees. Next year we expect to increase that number and also expand to include other local colleges in Louisville. Over the next four years this will generate over $1.8 Million dollars in tuition fees for our area and until now that money has gone to California - who have recruited the top students throughout China. Now we are able to go into the high schools ourselves and bring that talent to Louisville. This has been made possible through tireless efforts by Sister Cities volunteers who have nurtured the relationship since its beginning. You know who you are, thank you for all that you do for our City.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Sister-Cities-Needs-Your-Voice.html?soid=1105757923604&aid=GVqn4uZVows

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Sister-Cities-Needs-Your-Voice.html?soid=1105757923604&aid=GVqn4uZVows

Day 13 in Ghana

Today and yesterday morning at the Zo Simli School, I created a lesson plan of my own, which I was very proud of. The English Master instructed me to discuss with them, some of the elements of speech writing. Yesterday I taught them about informative speeches and today we covered persuasive speeches. Speech writing in itself takes a completely different perspective in Ghana than in the United States. In Ghana, there seems to not be much emphasis on conveying a message in a speech, but more so in the art of how it is delivered, and who is delivering it. However, the English Master and myself have been collaborating very well in giving the students both cultures of speech writing.
I had them repeat a phrase that happened to come to me while I was lecturing. "The best speech is an effective speech." Most American students at the college level are familiar with the differences between informative and persuasive speeches. They are also familiar with some of the structuring tools. Therefore we discussed the concepts of an introduction, main points, conclusion, and even a thesis statement- which they grasp more as the "theme" of the speech. They took notes on my lecture and then the English Master taught them from somewhat of a different angle. The biggest difference is the idea of the thesis statement. What is it that you want your audience to take away from this speech? In Ghana, this is not necessarily an important factor.
This has also been my first time experiencing tropical rain which comes down much harder than the rain I am used to in the states. I picture a giant bucket or water hose spraying the area. It rains so hard and loud, it can wake one up in the middle of the night, or make it hard to even carry on a conversation!
The Dagbani language is quite fascinating and I have been able to learn many of the standard greetings here. Generally almost everyone speaks English, however, you find that a vast majority when conversing with one another speak Dagbani. There is an English-Dagbani dictionary here at the palace that I want to read just for some more phrases. The culture here is remarkable in that its uniqueness is truly is moving.

Day 11 in Ghana

The most enjoyable part about being in Ghana right now (besides meeting all of the wonderful people) is working at the Zo Simli-Naa Junior High School. It is an all girls school, the ages range from about eleven to thirteen. I am assisting the English Master in his class. The girls immediately welcomed me with a very loud greeting in unison. They all had smiles on their faces.

The school is staffed by nice instructors whom were also very inviting. However, as an individual who has been an American student for about seventeen years, I feel as if I will no longer complain about the way classes are run, nor should I. American students often take for granted some of the things that the students at Zo Simli do not have. For example, it would be difficult for an American student to have class with no air conditioning. It's hard to focus when you are concerned about how hot you are. You need the wind to blow through the classroom, so both doors of the room must be open. This brings about a lot of distractions outside such as the many goats and sheep roaming around, people walking through the area, and children playing soccer outside.

Also as an American student, I have never thought about how a projector enhances one's chances of grasping the material being taught. It's a projector, nothing special right? Wrong. Imagine straining your eyes from the back of the classroom with about 10% of an electric light, the other 90% natural light, trying to read what has been written on the very used chalkboard. All that is seen is smeared chalk from previous lessons. Even as a teacher without a proper desk and chair, textbooks, and other learning equipment, there is much to be said about how quickly the students grasp the material. I wonder how easy it would be to find chalkboard cleaner in Tamale...

So the material I am teaching is indeed one of my favorite skills. English. When I begin a lecture in the class, I am always mindful of my enunciation of words. Ghanaians, and many Africans in general use very proper English with each letter usually enunciated. So my own pronunciation of words has definitely improved, the purpose being so that the girls can understand what I am saying. However, sometimes it is a bit of a challenge for me to understand their accents also. I have had to familiarize myself with the material I teach because much of what I am teaching was taught to me in elementary and was never revisited again. Proper use of adjectives, adverbs, verbs, pronouns and nouns, clauses, reading comprehension and punctuation. However, it is important to view this material with a wide lens incorporating a number of circumstances.

What I believe will be most interesting will be how well the students catch on to some American teaching strategies like singing songs for memorization, the pattern of writing papers with an introduction and conclusion along with three main points, and perhaps even doing more hands-on activities. I know I have some very helpful strategies to learning different concepts because they were taught to me, the challenge will be to identify the cultural differences between us and simply use the American strategies as tools, not as their foundation for learning the material. I look forward to seeing the results of my plan.

Day 9 in Ghana

I am very pleased with the way I have been able to adapt to my surroundings in Ghana- that was never my concern. However, I am a person who is very conscientious of my time as well as others' time. As Americans, we are people who value time management because we believe it helps ease some of the simple stressors such as miscommunication and waiting. However, Ghanaian time runs about 30 minutes to an hour later than usual. So if a Ghanaian says, "Let's meet at 9:00am," that gives me time to leisurely get up, prepare a breakfast, and be ready by about 9:30am. Many African Americans joke about such a time existing in the US within their communities as well. A sort of "cultural lateness." However, we still know as Americans that we are "running late." Many times in Ghana this does not exist. And as I predicted, that has become one of my greatest obstacles.
Today has been a good day. I had a brief meeting this morning with Chief about some of the new goals for Sister Cities of Tamale. I can clearly see the intersections between Sister Cities of Louisville and Sister Cities of Tamale, and I am honored to be an effective liaison between the two cities.
Today I ate jollof rice, another one of my favorite dishes in this country. It has a slight kick, which is perfect for me because I can't handle too many spicy foods. Tomorrow, I will go with Mariama (an outstanding cook and overall wonderful woman) to a Ghanaian Baptist Church, which I'm sure will be an experience all in itself. I look forward to it.

Day 8 in Ghana

With today being day 8 in Ghana, it feels as if I have only been here for maybe 2. This is my first time out of the United States, and what a wonderful choice. I have never met such a wonderful culture of people who were naturally kind, appreciative, accommodating, and overall had such "wonderful spirits," as my mother would say. Now that I have discovered internet cafes, I will have more of an opportunity to record the details of my experiences on this blog. At this very moment, I have been to Accra and am now in Tamale. I really like Tamale and its calming environment. The Chief's Palace is full of such a helpful staff and have made sure that my stay has been comfortable so far. The food is excellent, my favorite dishes are Red Red and Jollof Rice. It has taken awhile for me to get used to the heat, my skin is getting browner and browner. :)
I am now aiding the English Master at the Zo Simli-Naa Junior High Girls School, next door to the palace. The English Master has allowed me to lead the lectures in grammar and the next lesson will be speech writing. In my next entry to this blog, I plan on writing much sooner and providing many more details, but overall, I am enjoying my stay here in Ghana and adapting well to my surroundings.

Mayor Fischer meets with Local Extreme Skaters

Late yesterday afternoon, Sister Cities and 7 local Extreme Skaters and BMX riders stopped by Mayor Fischer's office. The group was about to leave for Louisville's Sister City of Perm, Russia for the opening of Russia's first Extreme Park-modelled on non other than Louisville's own extreme park blueprints (handed over several years ago during a visit from Perm's Mayor Shubin). Mayor Fischer wanted to give them an official send off; we were expecting a quick handshake, photo and "do Louisville proud" speach but what we got was entirely different....



Mayor Fischer showed a genuine interest, asking about the local Skate Park, what it needed and what could improve it. The group offered serious suggestions and recommendations and sited several local Skate shops as the unofficial representatives of the local Skate community. Two main concerns - shade and graphitti stood out (along with a lack of recycling bins) and the group had several great suggestions to tackle these issues.





Local politics may not have been a talking point down at the skate park but Mayor Fischer may have just changed that. Listening to constituents is something most good polititians try to do but showing a genuine interest and engaging individuals on the things that matter most to them is priceless and yesterday Mayor Fischer showed this group that they matter. At least to me, it seemed as though they left Metro Hall with perhaps a different view of our new Mayor than when they walked in 45 minutes earlier. Who knows, maybe we can look to the skate park for one of our future city leaders!